To stay on Eliquis or not

@spudmato. After my TIA last January, my cardiologist and my children convinced me to have a loop recorder implant to make sure I don't have afib, as many people have afib and not really feel it. So far so good. No afib noted. I was also put on Xeralto. Apart from some bleeding from my gum, which I have problem with before the Xeralto, I have not noticed any serious bruising. I've read that blood clotting is found in many covid patients so that's another reason I'm still on it.
I don't like taking meds, but don't want another TIA either. The next time I may not be so lucky as I did not suffer any damage from the last one. I just wish there's a generic soon. I can hardly afford it, yet I don't qualify for any kind of assistance either from xeralto or Medicare.

Congratulations on your outcome so far. Some what good news as far as a generic for Eliquis as the FDA has announced the approval of one but it doesn't mean that it will become available commercially anytime soon. Yep in the same boat as you with the cost. Hate it when watching commercials for it and they say "May cost you only $5.00 per prescription".

Generic drugs & costs are a sticky wicket.

@sandw40 and @spudmato you will notice I have updated your posts to remove political statements that may draw attention away from the discussion on healthcare and to align with our Community Guidelines. Please reference #6 in the guidelines for more information. Thank you so much!

-Community Guidelines:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

Sorry for straying, thanks for keeping me in line!

it was in reference to the post & the necessity of pure research, and what might stand it tis way. It was in fact containing political content, but not intended to be a focal point but balance.

I have already responded to your post, as did many of us from this forum. But then it took a weird turn and began going down a road I had no interest in following. The question in your original post was very simple and to the point.........."My question is, is Eliquis doing anything for me? My understanding is that clots would only develop because of an afib event. No AFib events, no clots." MY UNDERSTANDING, which was explained to me by two cardiologists and my electrocardiologist, is that once you've been diagnosed with AFIB, it is a lifelong diagnosis. If you're lucky, it can be controlled by medication, implanted devices or surgery, commonly referred to as ablation. I was also told that many people have AFIB but are completely unaware because they don't "feel" the horribly frightening episodes. I believe my doctors called this "silent AFIB") About a year after my ablation, my PVC's (which I'd had since I was much younger) started up again, so I wore a ZIO patch for 2 weeks. The results of that showed that I had had a couple episodes of AFIB I did not feel at all. This was scary to me because my AFIB episodes before the ablation were ALWAYS noticeable, and were, in fact, destroying the quality of my life. A major factor for me choosing the ablation procedure. To accept that I could be in AFIB and NOT KNOW IT, convinced me that I was NEVER going off my blood thinner, which just happens to be Xarelto. My EC has me wearing a ZIO patch every 6 months now to watch for further episodes which MIGHT mean I need another ablation....which is pretty common. But...to FINALLY get to your question........I believe the answer is that since AFIB CAN be silent, it could STILL cause a clot to form, but your Eliquis is protecting you 24/7 from that grim outcome. I'm also in my 70's with multiple underlying health issues, but if there is SOMETHING out there that will prevent adding "stroke" to that list......Why in heaven's name wouldn't I take it? I think you should discuss this with your cardiologist rather than your PCP..........to be left with the statement that "it's up to you" if you stay on Eliquis or not is NOT very good "doctoring" in my humble opinion.

Amanda.........I, for one, am incredibly grateful you updated the post(s) that veered off into politics. This is absolutely NOT the place I come to for political advice, opinions or arguments! If it had been left unchecked, I'd be looking for a new forum and I really didn't want to have to do that as I believe this is the best site out there. Again....thank you!

I understood Eliquis to be generic now with two companies licensed to produce it, but nada. Could be they were bought out or bought off.

Wayne, the greatest danger of AFIB is a stroke, but that's a pretty serious danger, don't you think? Patients on Eliquis or Xarelto are no more likely to have a stroke than people without AFIB. No, I agree they are expensive but you can go on line(start at GoodRX) and get coupons and other spiffs to reduce the copays. Otherwise, considering the risk, why not take them?